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    Help!!!!!! Choosing a SSD for my m11xr2

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by tzc1215, Jul 26, 2011.

  1. tzc1215

    tzc1215 Notebook Enthusiast

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    im looking to upgrade my m11x R2's hard drive to an SSD
    SATA3
    120 or 128GB

    Do any of you know of Mobile InterGS45 motherboard will support SATA3 6GB/S SSD?

    And can you guys give some good recommendation of an SSD, my budget will be around $200

    thx :) :) :)
     
    tzc1215, Jul 26, 2011
    #1
  2. tzc1215

    tzc1215 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Edit; intel QS57
     
    tzc1215, Jul 26, 2011
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  3. blaster

    blaster 1 tequila, 2,3,4,5, floor

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    I hate to tell u that your current model will not take advantage of the new 6gb/s ssds speeds. Therefore it would be a waste of money getting one of those since you are not going to see much improvement in speed. Your best shot(best bang for the buck) is a vertex 2 120gb, they go for about $180 new on ebay
     
    blaster, Jul 26, 2011
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  4. martinroshak

    martinroshak Notebook Consultant

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    I currently have a Vertex 2 120gb running in my R3 (had it before I got a R3 replacement for my R1) and it's working very nicely. Wouldn't go with a lower capacity though.
     
    martinroshak, Jul 26, 2011
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  5. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    I have a sata 3 crucial m4 and is very good but if the m11x doesn't support sata 3 then a vertex 2 would be a good ssd for it.
     
    Sam_A_1992, Jul 26, 2011
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  6. bavman

    bavman Notebook Evangelist

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    If you could grab an intel x25m 120gb that would be better than the vertex 2 imo. They are better on your battery and are slightly faster. But they seem to be harder to find now.
     
    bavman, Jul 26, 2011
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  7. hammadurb

    hammadurb Notebook Guru

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    I was using an Agility 2 240gb on my r2 which is now transferred to my r3.
     
    hammadurb, Jul 26, 2011
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  8. Handgun Hollis

    Handgun Hollis Notebook Enthusiast

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    I use a corsair f120 on my m11xr2 and i absolutely love it
     
    Handgun Hollis, Jul 26, 2011
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  9. idlehand

    idlehand Notebook Consultant

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    I am rocking a Intel x25m 120gb in my R2 and works great. Would highly recommend it.

    on the SATA3 side unless you are thinking moving the SSD to another machine soon that supports SATA3 don't bother since M11xr2 doesn't support it.

    Good Luck
     
    idlehand, Jul 26, 2011
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  10. martinroshak

    martinroshak Notebook Consultant

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    Looking at going a 256gb crucial m4 as soon as I get the money, heard very good things about crucial.

    At OP, from what I've gleaned, if you're going for reliability, Intel is the winner, Crucial is an all round performer, but OCZ is the 'fastest' but it's really only noticeable in benchmarks.

    Like everyone is suggesting, make sure you get a SATA II 3gb/s drive, otherwise (unless you're specifically planning on getting a R3 in the near future) you are wasting your money.
     
    martinroshak, Jul 26, 2011
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  11. tzc1215

    tzc1215 Notebook Enthusiast

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    okay thanks guys
    ill be looking to by a OCZ Vertex 2
    which i can get a deal of 160$

    can anyone throw some benchmark result about the Vertex2?

    Thx again
     
    tzc1215, Jul 26, 2011
    #11
  12. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Fastest, perhaps. Least reliable, most definitely. I'd stick with Crucial or Intel. Just because one of their newest drives (M4 and 510, respectively) won't reach their maximum potential in an R2 doesn't mean they're under-performing or "bad" in any way.
     
    saturnotaku, Jul 26, 2011
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  13. martinroshak

    martinroshak Notebook Consultant

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    This is true, but if he's not going to utilise the SATA III interface there's no point paying the extra 100+ dollars they would cost. Getting a SATA II Intel or Crucial could definitely be a good idea, but not a SATA III if all he'll be using it in is a R2...

    As to the reliability of OCZ, yeah, I've heard bad things, but personally I've had no issues. As a precaution though, in future I will be going with Intel or Crucial.
     
    martinroshak, Jul 26, 2011
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  14. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    A 128 GB Crucial M4 is $215 at Newegg, which puts it right in the ballpark of similar SSDs that size.
     
    saturnotaku, Jul 27, 2011
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  15. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    I'm assuming you're talking about 120GB capacity. For $160, that is a great deal on an OCZ Vertex 2. Go for it.

    As for benchmarks - you can easily do a Google search for "OCZ Vertex 2 Reviews" and get a huge list of reviews and benchmarks, including reviews from well-known and reputable review sites like Anandtech.com

    This is not necessarily true.

    The only real benchmark number that is important when it comes to SSDs is Random 4KB Read speeds (and NOT Sequential Read Speeds, which everyone focuses on because it generates the "big" numbers).

    A drive like a Crucial C300 / M4 (SATA3 drive) SSD will generate high Random 4KB Read speeds, even when operating in SATA2 mode. So it is inaccurate to try and use a blanket rule that buying a drive that is *capable* of SATA3 speeds for an Alienware M11x R1/R2 is a complete waste.
     
    kent1146, Jul 27, 2011
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  16. martinroshak

    martinroshak Notebook Consultant

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    In that case... real option! Pricing over here in Oz is a bit different, so a Vertex 2 costs 205 and a Crucial M4 costs 279. Come to think of it, that's really not all that bad!

    What you're saying makes perfect sense, never thought about that, thanks! Learn something new all the time :)
     
    martinroshak, Jul 27, 2011
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  17. tzc1215

    tzc1215 Notebook Enthusiast

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    thx everyone for the feedback
     
    tzc1215, Jul 30, 2011
    #17